Varjo vain

A satirical spy comedy. Aleksis Nyqvist, an intern at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is pushed to the head of Finland's newly founded secret service, when a suitable dummy is needed for the position. However, Nyqvist identifies with his role too well and accidentally causes a security political crisis - and soon Helsinki is swarming with secret agents. How is Nyqvist doing?

Based on a novel by the late Finnish writer Timo Mukka, this simple story focuses on what happens when Milka (Irma Huntus), a girl barely out of childhood, gets pregnant by Ojanen (Matti Turunen) a rustic fieldhand. Her own mother had been hoping to marry Ojanen, and her daughter's pregnancy turns their lives around. Set in the Lapp country of northern Finland, the scenery is breathtaking, made even more so by the isolation of the region. A sense of natural solitude is underscored by a slow-moving dialogue interspersed with long silences, and the connection between nature and the dialogue is underscored as the young Milka recites poetry while out in the countryside. The fate of Milka and her mother, however, is connected to the decision that Ojanen makes at the end.

The second part of Hella Wuolijoki's family saga. Heta Niskavuori marries Akusti, a farmhand. Together, they build a magnificent house from a croft, and Akusti forges a distinguished career in society. To Heta, however, he will always be a farmhand.

The final part of Hella Wuolijoki's family saga. After Aarne dies in the war, his sisters want to divide up the Niskavuori farm. The Karelians also want their share of the inheritance. However, Loviisa wants to leave behind an independent and viable farm. Based on a play by Hella Wuolijoki from 1953.

The first part of Hella Wuolijoki's family saga. Loviisa comes to Niskavuori as Juhani's young wife. She has to fight for her right to the house and her husband, but finds her own way of life and takes her place as the mistress of the house. Based on Hella Wuolijoki's play of the same name from 1940.